Model Hell......oh, and free U.S. shipping in the shop

So, today I reluctantly posted an ad on craigslist for a second model for the shop. I love my model, Sara. She is the best thing since the invention of wine. She totally embodies the Jojo look. She is tall and shapely and everything looks gorgeous on her. I get more emails about her than anything else on the site- lol. I've even had a few european men send odd love notes for her. I know I will be hard pressed to ever replace her when she's decided she's had enough. Anyway, my lovely Sara is broad shouldered and I've started a collection of items that are in the xsmall range that just don't fit her.

So, I finally listed an ad and now have the unpleasant task of trying to sort through pretty women to see who has the right look for the shop. Its tough. They have to have a young face that can pull off many different eras, not to mention needing a 24" waist. So many young women today look,well.... too modern. I need a girl that can pull off a 60s bouffant or a sleek 40s or 50s look. I guess I'll know her when I see her. Hopefully this process will be easier than a root canal. Best to have a cup of tea and calm my nerves.

Anyway, etsy came up with a great new coupon code system to offer free shipping. So, for a break in this model mayhem, I thought I'd try it out. Right now I'm offering free DOMESTIC U.S. SHIPPING on anything in the store using coupon code USFREESHIP (yes, I know it should be "modelhell" to tie this all together, but I'm a mom that operates on little sleep. )

See you at the shop!

Vintage Hat Thieves are most unsavory characters

As my gentle readers may recall, recently I decided to ask my customers if they would be willing to be featured wearing their Jojo's vintage in my blog. I'm delighted to report that I've had many say yes, brave souls, so I plan to share their vintage purchase stories with you here from time to time.

Today I'd like to introduce you to my sweet customer Vicky who hails from the UK. Vicky had sent me a lovely photo of herself in her Jojo's vintage hat that was taken whilst dining at her celebratory birthday dinner. Being her 30th, this was a special occasion worthy of fine vintage. The blue velvet rhinestone studded hat was one of the first in a new collection Vicky had started this past fall. She had purchased it to wear at the event with her navy blue 50s cocktail suit, both of which she is wearing in the photo below.

Here is the original listing photo and Vicky's very smart look!

Vicky continued on with her tale and shared that her lovely hat had the misfortune of being pinched at the pub during the dinner party! The hat went missing when she tried on another that was a birthday gift. I can imagine the scene she further describes, everyone frantically searching for the missing birthday hat, and her visible displeasure at losing her new vintage treasure. Somehow I can envision some sort of Benny Hill/Eddie Izzard mime with a tranny male waiter stealing the hat and trying it on in the backroom while everyone is scrambling looking for it. Realizing its absence has been noted, he is far too embarassed to return it. Could there possibly be anyone lower than a vintage hat thief? Worse yet, a vintage hat thief that prowls the pubs looking for unsuspecting vintage victims!? I think there must be a special place reserved in hell for them. As a matter of fact, I think the non-repentant thief hanging on the cross next to Jesus was a vintage hat thief. Who does such a thing?

In all seriousness, my sympathies are extended to Vicky and I will certainly be on the lookout for a replacement hat for her. If any of my gentle readers has seen a similar hat for sale, please let me know so I can direct her to a suitable substitute. In the meantime, be well, wear good vintage and watch your hats!

See you at the shop!

My Real Life in Vintage

Me, in vintage accessories and custom bolero/dress at my October 2008 wedding.

When I started my Etsy vintage clothing shop in May of last year, I did it on a whim as an exploratory career option. I was a newly laid off mother of a newborn, having limited career options with my education in theatrical costume design. I was staying home with baby and giving some hard thought about what to do next. Here I was at 40, a tattooed, vintage-wearing, old -80s-punk that was a jack of all trades and master of none. I felt like I’d done all I could without a Masters (in Minnesota anyway) and continued to wrestle with the dilemma of needing to eat vs. self-fulfillment. My love of historical clothing design and all things of bygone eras had been reduced to a hobby.

It wasn’t until I found Etsy and purchased a bunch of vintage baby planters for my newborns retro –themed baptism party that I thought, “Hey, if they can do this, why can’t I?” I delved into my new adventure with the fervor of a woman with her hair on fire. I was on a mission to find the lost treasures of yesteryears closets! Thus began my great adventure into a world that encompasses everything from researching, buying/selling, internet social networking, makeup artistry and photography. It is the best of all possible worlds, both exciting and exhausting with a baby on hip.

One thing I wasn’t anticipating when I set out on this adventure was the wonderful people I would come to meet along the way. Every time I shipped something out, I held my breath. Would they like my treasure as much as I did? Wonderful feedback began appearing from the customers. They loved their dress! They were so excited! Stories of parties and plans for wearing their vintage were shared. I was amazed that I had somehow brought some excitement to someone else’s life by selling them a dress. It was great to see that something I had found in an estate attic or buried unappreciated at a second hand store could make someone else as giddy as it made me!

Recently I received some feedback, photos and stories with one such happy customer- April from Los Angeles, CA. April is a very smart and chic woman who knows what she likes! She purchased a light blue cotton 50s pinup fit n flare gored dress with rhinestone accents on the bust. Her unexpected feedback and appreciation picture just about knocked me outta my chair:

“So, I had been eyeing this dress ever since it was listed. I practically lusted after it. It kind of seemed too good to be true. An AWESOMELY constructed, pristine, GORGEOUS dress for 79 dollars? I just had to believe there was something wrong with it. But I wanted it. Now that I have it? I think I want to marry this dress and have little dress babies that look just like it. For reals ya'll. This dress is that cool. I highly endorse this seller and I will be buying from again! Such an eye for quality.”



She just sent me some more fantastic pictures of her in the dress at a New Year’s Eve celebration, which you can see on her new blog, The Vintage Fairygodmother. April’s enthusiasm for vintage and the shop has revived my spirit after a tiring holiday. The very best part of my work is the fantastic feeling you get when you connect with someone over the shared passion of vintage. You feel like a little girl giggling in the back of the school bus with your best friend again. My customers have become my best cheerleaders and I am so honored to be part of their real vintage life!

If you have purchased an item from my store and would like to be featured on my blog, please contact me through the store: www.jojosretroandvintage.etsy.com